Damascus, June 30 (SANA)Minister of Emergency and Disaster ManagementRaed al-Salehand Turkish Interior MinisterMustafa Çiftçisigned a cooperation memorandum in Damascus on Tuesday aimed at establishing an effective framework for joint cooperation in disaster and emergency management, the ministry said.

The memorandum includes provisions for mutual assistance and response during disasters or emergencies, exchange of expertise and knowledge, and implementation of specialized training programs in prevention, preparedness and response to enhance joint readiness and the two countries’ capacities to face disasters and protect lives, according to a statement.

The signing followed talks between the two sides on ways to enhance cooperation, as part of the Turkish minister’s visit to Syria with a high-level delegation including senior Turkish officials.

‘A professional and humanitarian dimension’

In a post on X, minister al-Saleh said the memorandum carries a professional and humanitarian dimension, expressing his gratitude to the Turkish Interior Minister, Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), its leadership and staff for their support and cooperation over the past years.

“Thirteen years ago, I attended with a number of colleagues the first civil defense training course in Türkiye, where we learned the principles of rescue and the foundations of professional work in emergency response,” al-Saleh wrote. “That lesson left a deep impact on my professional career, when the instructor showed us the difference between a trained and untrained rescuer—the difference between life and death for someone waiting for help.”

Al-Saleh noted that the cooperation with Türkiye has evolved from operating with modest capabilities to a partnership based on shared humanitarian responsibility in saving lives.

Çiftçi said the memorandum would contribute to elevating expertise exchange and joint field work to a stronger foundation, adding that Türkiye would continue sharing its knowledge and experience with the Syrian side to support stability and normalize life across all sectors, according to a post on X.

The signing builds on months of coordination between the two countries’ disaster management institutions. Al-Saleh has described the evolving relationship as a “strategic partnership” that is reshaping disaster relief, mine clearance and reconstruction efforts.

The two countries had previously agreed to establish a joint operations room on the Syrian-Turkish border to coordinate emergency and wildfire response. Earlier Tuesday, Çiftçi met with his Syrian counterpart Anas Khattab to discuss security cooperation, public order and strengthening Syria’s institutional capacity, with officials also reviewing cooperation on establishing a 112 emergency call network and training Syrian police officers. The Turkish delegation included AFAD President Ali Hamza Pehlivan.